Page 113 of Wicked Sea and Sky

“Our rations aren’t exciting, but they’ll do.” He tossed me a wrapped bundle of dried meat, cheese, and bread.

“They still aren’t as bad as Bowen’s cooking.” I slid down beside him, the heat from the fire sinking into my clothes that were still damp from the rain. A spear of lightning flashed outside the window. The wind howled.

“Here, here!” Gavin raised a hunk of cheese in agreement. “That man could ruin a perfectly good egg. Thankfully, he has a cook. Liana would never have stayed.”

“I don’t know… Bowen has other qualities.” I cast Gavin a mocking look. “Not everyone is as obsessed with their stomach as you are.” I playfully tapped my temple. “Some people value the mind.”

“Very funny. Let me think. Which one of us found the seeds first? Oh, yeah, me. My mind.”

I shrugged, hiding my grin behind a sip of water. “Faster doesn’t always mean smarter. Cass and I had a stunning plan. A heist work of art.”

“Stunning is right. You should wear black silk more often.”

I tossed a piece of bread at him. Gavin caught it and popped it into his mouth with a wink—the devil.

For a while, we ate in easy silence. I finished the meat, the last bite of cheese, then tore off another piece of bread.

“Wait.” Gavin reached into the side pocket of his pack. “I have something for you.”

He removed a small glass jar and held it up. A thick ambersubstance glowed in the firelight. I stilled.

Honey. My favorite.

I hadn’t had honey in years. The last time I even thought about it was back in my cell with Sirena, regaling her with descriptions of its smooth, sweet taste. Like molten gold, you can eat.

“Where did you get that?”

Gavin popped the lid. “You think I don’t remember things, but I do. You always drizzle honey on your bread. And I think you deserve a treat. A, ‘you survived a vicious bog monster, and all you got were sappy hands’, kind of treat.”

“You're right. My quick thinking should be celebrated,” I said, unable to stop the blush streaking across my cheeks. I took the jar from him, bringing it to my nose before dipping the tip of my finger into the pot. The first taste made my eyelids heavy. It was a sweetness that sent a shiver to my core. Simple. Perfect.

I glanced at Gavin. He was watching me.

“You did good, Blackwood. Please accept my effusive praise. See? I knew I could think of something.” I drizzled some honey onto my bread. “And you didn’t even have to kill any snakes.”

Our fingers brushed when I handed him back the jar.

“My plan all along. Win you over with the honey and pray to the treasure gods, there weren’t any snakes.” He faked a shudder. “Nasty beasts.”

I settled my back against the wall. A heaviness weighed on my shoulders. Exhaustion from walking and carrying a pack for hours.

“You’re quiet,” Gavin said, tearing off another piece of bread. “Worried about tomorrow?”

I blinked, rolling my shoulders as the tightness moved higher up my neck. My throat felt dry like I’d traveled miles withoutwater.

“Yes. Normally, I like mazes. But the innkeeper said something evil lurks in this one.”

“Vague monsters are the worst. They are always more atrocious than you imagine. Like a saber-toothed unicorn with a blood-soaked horn and spiked hooves. Suddenly, the snakes don’t seem so bad.” He nudged my knee with his foot. “You should get some rest.”

I nodded, finishing the last of my bread. The crust stuck in the back of my throat, and my chest felt leaden. The warmth from the fire had faded, leaving my skin feeling clammy. A strange pressure built in my throat, and I tipped my head back with a rush of dizziness. The sweet taste in my mouth soured. My breath tugged like it weighed more than air should.

Gavin unrolled his bedding, then leaned back against his elbows. “As long as it’s not still raining, we’ll hit the maze at first light, use our tokens to cross the clouds, then get inside the castle and get out. If an evil creature lurks inside the maze, we’ll handle it, or you will. You can distract it with ooze or something. I trust your instincts.” He flashed me a grin.

But the edges of my vision were darkening. His grin blurred.

A dull ache spread across my collarbone, crawling up my throat, squeezing. The air was too heavy. Too—

“Gavin—” I gasped his name, pressing my hand hard against my chest.